Bee sank into the water and felt it filling her nose before she pushed herself back to the surface again. She saw Nate crouched by the edge of the pool and for some reason started laughing at him.

"Bee, you're drunk. Get out of the pool." He said.

"I've got this, Nate. You can leave." Rue said dryly.

"I'm not talking to you."

"Oh God, stop. You two are no fun." Bee said swimming away from them.

"Let's go." Nate said. "Don't make me come get you."

"She's not going anywhere with you." Rue said. She could tell her friend was getting irritated. "Jules, get out."

Bee felt Jules take her hand and guide her to the edge of the pool. Once she was within Nate's reach he pulled her out by her forearm and held her until she balanced on her feet. She looked up and smiled at him. "Hi."

"I'm taking you home." He said looking at her.

"No, you're not." Rue said as she helped Jules out of the pool.

"It's okay, we're friends." Bee said dismissively.

"Let's go get you a towel." Nate said and took her hand before guiding her back into the house.

"I'll be baaaaack."

Fifteen minutes later she was wrapped in a towel and tucked in the passenger seat of Nate's car.
She didn't understand how she'd gotten there or where they were going. She just knew she had to pee really badly.

"Are you mad at me?"

"Yes." He said. "Why do you have to make things so difficult? Why do I have to pretend like I don't know you in front of other people. I had to stand there and watch that asshole talk to you like that. I wanted to—"

"What guy— Oh. Right."

"And then I had to watch you get into the pool and go get you like I am your fucking chaperone."

"No one asked you to take care of me. I was fine. I am perfectly fine. Wait, where are we going?"

"To my house. I'm not bringing you home like this."

Bee's phone started buzzing against her leg. "Hey?"

"Where are you?" Rue asked on the other side of the line.

"Nate's uh— driving me home. We're here in fact."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, of course."

"You better not wake up in the hospital tomorrow." Bee laughed and then fell quiet when she realized it wasn't a joke.

"I'm fine. I promise."

When they got to Nate's house they went straight to his room. She peed and then sat on the floor next to the toilet for a few minutes minutes in case she threw up.

"Just stick a finger and get it over with." Nate said as he sat behind her and pulled her hair back with his hands.

"You know what? Why don't you just leave?" She asked.

"I can't leave. We're at my house." He said and then heard him let out a quiet laugh. "Come on. Let's get you changed."

He helped her out of her top and skirt and into one of his shirts and boxers. She mumbled something about him seeing her naked but he just laughed and handed her a toothbrush after she was dressed.

"You're a mess." He said looking at her reflection in the mirror. "But you look cute."

"Cute? I'm not cute. I'm supposed to be hot." She mumbled with toothbrush in her mouth. "You're fucking cute."

"First time anyone's ever said it."

After she brushed her teeth they both got into bed. She laid her back against the mattress and closed her eyes.

"Listen, don't fall asleep like that." He said as she drifted off to sleep. "I'm serious, Bee. Turn sideways." He helped her with his hands and she turned in his direction. "That's better." He said as he removed the hair that was falling on her face.

She mimicked his move and reached for his face. She felt his cheek and the raspy skin of his jawline before moving to his neck. She grabbed it with her hand but didn't apply any pressure on it.

"Are you mad at me?" She asked.

"You already asked that."

"Whatever. I don't like you anyway." She said and closed her eyes.

"I know."

"In fact, I hate you. I really do." She said quietly.

"I know." He repeated and then pressed her hand around his neck. "That's the real reason you never talked to me again."

"No, that's not it." She said, unable to keep her eyes open.

"What was it then?"

"I just couldn't imagine what it would be like. Talking to you but not having you around— It would've been worse." She was so dizzy she had to open her eyes and found him staring back at her. "I refused for that to be our ending. Some completely unmemorable text from someone you don't really know anymore. I wanted to keep you the way you were in my mind."

They held each other's eyes for a couple of seconds before Nate kissed her. His lips moved urgently against hers, as if he'd been holding back. She matched his movements and felt him slip closer to her. She wrapped her leg around his waist and felt his hardness through the fabric of his boxers.

"You're gonna drive me insane." He whispered as he kissed her neck.

Bee  got on top of him and bit his bottom lip gently before straightening her back to a sitting position. Her palms ran over the soft skin of his chest until they reached his abs. When they did she followed to the hem of the shirt she was wearing and took it off.
She watched him look at her and smiled in satisfaction. He ran his hand over her stomach going up all the way to her face. She closed her eyes enjoying his touch until she felt his thumb slide over her lips. She wrapped her lips around it and sucked it slowly, holding his hand with her own.

"Fuck." He muttered and sat up, bringing his face closer to hers. He gripped the hair on the back of her head and kissed her. Then he turned her around so that he was the one on top.

"How drunk are you?" He asked looking into her eyes.

"Like a 7."

"Like a 7 if 10 is blackout drunk." He said and swallowed hard. His lips pressed against hers but they lacked the determination they'd had before.

"Nate—" She wrapped her legs even tighter around his waist. "Please."

"I don't want you to wake up tomorrow and decide you're angry at me for the next three days again." He said.

"I promise. I won't." She said. "I want it."

"What do you want?"

"You." She said and raised her head so she could kiss him.

"Say it again." He said while brushing his nose against hers.

"I want you." She let out and he smiled. "Please."

"Not tonight, Bee." He said and kissed her cheek. "You've made enough stupid decisions for one day."

She breathed out in desperation. "Are you being serious?" But she could tell that he was, even if he was smiling. "I could make you change your mind, you know?"

"Don't make this any harder on me." He said and then added, whispering to her ear. "Or I'll make you regret it."

"I'd like to see how."

He laughed and she felt like she hated that he was actually enjoying himself. "Tomorrow, if you're still up for it. I'll remind you of this entire conversation."

"Don't. Please."

"I thought so." He said and laid by her side.

She grabbed his shirt back from the bed and put in on again feeling frustrated. She laid back on her side with her back in his direction and closed her eyes trying to fall asleep.

"Everything's spinning." She muttered and felt him shift on the bed until his arms were around her. She felt the warmth of his body against hers.

"Is it better now?" He asked.

"A little." She mumbled before drifting into sleep.

Author's note: protective Nate is my absolute favorite 🖤 thanks for reading. Remember to vote.